For Kiké Hernández, the regular season has only been warming up for six months. When the air in the evening becomes brittle and the leaves begin to change, a real baseball will be played.
Few players rose up when the summer turned into a fall, Hernández, who had two hits, scored twice in another game on Wednesday, driving twice, spurting the dodge comeback to beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 and sweep the Cincinnati Reds and sweep their National League field card series.
This puts the team in five best divisional series with the Phillies, which began Saturday in Philadelphia.
“Kiké in October is special,” said Dodge manager Dave Roberts. “And the trail is self-evident. He is one of the best records in playoff history.”
This is the reputation he has won.
Hernández's .236 professional batsman in the regular season hit .286 in 88 playoff games. He scored .203/.255/.366 in this year's regular season, but he hit .500 in two playoff games, hitting threes and finishing second with four shots. He also got a great off-road capture as he ran to the warning track before the first inning of Wednesday.
“This moment was built by some people. He was definitely one of them,” said third baseman Max Munchy. He stood in the middle of the Dodgers' batting cage during the team's post-match celebrations, with his blue T-shirt soaked in champagne on his teammates.
Hernández, wearing goggles but without a shirt, made a brief appearance at the victory party, but celebrated with his family before champagne and beer began hanging out on plastic boards covering the floor.
His teammates were all happy to talk about him in his absence.
“He's a non-shy guy,” said infielder Miguel Rojas. “I don't think it's enough for him to be the regular season.”
Rojas said he learned that the first-hand playoffs were short after rejoining the Dodgers in 2023, but Hernández led the team with two RBIs and ranked second by shooting percentage and second on average.
“I saw it on TV before. But when I got here, I saw it was real,” he said. “He always wanted this moment and he showed off the game tonight with a big double.”
It was the fourth game out when his line was driven to the midfield court, scoring 2-2 from first place. Four goals later, he scored on Rojas' single, making the Dodgers move forward.
But Hernandez is not done yet. Two innings later, he led the third base line with a scream, and before a single hit the bag, it fouled and started four games to drive the game away. The bottom of the Dodgers lineup – Hernández, Rojas and receiver Ben Rortvedt – combined to six out of six in five runs and two RBIs.
“Keki is Keki,” outfielder Teoscar Hernández said amid the hustle and bustle of the celebration. “That’s the person you got when October started.”
Before that? not much. But for Hernandez, the playoffs have become a time of redemption.
“I know they brought me here,” he said before Wednesday's game.
“The beauty of the playoffs is that once we get into the playoffs, everything starts to zero. You can have a bad year and then start the script in the playoffs. Your playoffs are great, helping the team win, and no one will remember everything you did in the regular season.”
Hernández, 34, is just a chance to compete on the sport's biggest stage. He has played 10 times in the playoffs in more than a dozen major league seasons, played 21 playoff series with the Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox and won two World Series rings.
“I’m lucky to be on the right team at the right time,” he said. “Being a great playoff player is a personal, but not a real one.
“I happen to be a lot of really good teams and I’m lucky to have a lot of opportunities.”
He guaranteed at least three chances in the division series with the Phillies on Wednesday. Rojas wants him to make the most of it.
“He always wants this moment, he wants to be there,” he said. “I learn from him every day. He is the most prepared guy I've ever played.”
Especially in October.